Mechanism attached to machines for the manufacture of envelopes, flat bags or the like for packing packets of the finished envelopes in folding boxes



Nov. 1, 1966 G. EHLSCHEID 3,282,019

MECHANISM ATTACHED TO MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, FLAT BAGS OR THE LIKE FOR PACKING PACKETS OF THE FINISHED ENVELOPES IN FOLDING BOXES Filed April 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lil jnreman' G/vreR EH4 sum/0 Nov. 1, 1966 G. EHLSCHEID 3,282,019

MECHANISM ATTACHED TO MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, FLAT BAGS OR THE LIKE FOR PACKING PACKETS OF THE FINISHED ENVELOPES IN FOLDING BOXES Filed'April 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M8; NZ

. frryerrzan' GOA/715R EH1. sum/0 firramvers 1965 G. EHLSCHEID 3,232,019

MECHANISM ATTACHED TO MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, FLAT BAGS OR THE LIKE FOR PACKING PACKETS OF THE FINISHED ENVELOPES IN FOLDING BOXES Filed April 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1966 G. EHLSCHEID 3,232,019

MECHANISM ATTACHED TO MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES, FLAT BAGS OR THE LIKE FOR PACKING PACKETS OF THE FINISHED ENVELOPES IN FOLDING BOXES Filed April 50, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gd/vr-ER EHLscHE/D United States Patent M 3,282,019 MECHANISM ATTACHED TO MACHHNES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELQPES, FLAT BAGS GR THE LIKE FOR PACKHNG PACKETS OF THE FENIISHED ENVELOPES IN FOLDHNG BOXES Giinter Ehischeid, Niederbieher, Kreis Nenwied, Germany, assignor to Richard Winkler, Rengsdorf uber Neuwied, Germany, and Kurt Dnnnehier, Wollendorf nicer Neuwied, Germany Filed Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,828 Claims priority, application Germany, May 3, 1962, W 32,190 7 Ciairns. (Cl. 53160) The invention relates to a mechanism which can be attached to machines for the production of envelopes, flat bags or the like for packing packets of the finished envelopes in folding boxes.

In comparison with a mechanism for packing the finished envelopes in cardboard boxes with lids, the technical expenditure on a mechanism for packing the envelopes in folding boxes adapted for closing at the end is comparatively low, because such folding boxes permit the envelopes which are banded into packets (or even envelopes which are not handed) to be pushed into the folding boxes in the direction of travel of the packets which are ejected, on edge, at the end of the machine producing them. In this case, the open folding boxes are moved periodically from a pile of boxes to the filling station situated in the path of travel of the packets to be packed and, after they have been filled with packets, through an intermediate station to the drying station. The fol-ding over and gumming of the closing flaps at the filling end of the folding boxes is effected automatically on the way from the filling station to the drying station.

The direction of movement of the folding "boxes from the pile to the drying station preferably runs at right angles to the direction in which the envelopes are conveyed through the machine. The removal of the closed folding boxes, the gumming of which during their stay in the drying station affords time for the drying, may conveniently be effected parallel to the conveying direction of the machine, or downwards.

One example of an embodiment of the mechanism is illustrated digramm-atically in the drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of the mechanism;

FIGURE 2 shows a section through the mechanism on the line 22 in FIGURE 1, with the omission of the guides 65, 67 and their actuating mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a section through the mechanism on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1, with the omission of the pile situated behind it;

FIGURE 4 shows the drive arrangement for the individual elements of the mechanism;

FIGURES 5 to show the various stages in the closing of the folding boxes in elevation and plan respectively.

The banded packets P of envelopes, which are ejected individually from the machine producing them, accumulate on the delivery table 1, being held by lateral guides 2. On the table plate 3 of the packing mechanism is the pile I of folding boxes between pile-holders 4, 5. Running in bearings 6 secured to the table plate 3 are the shafts 7, 8 on which are mounted chain wheels 9. Resting on the chain wheels 9 are conveying chains 10 with flight attachments 11 arrange-d uniformly spaced apart. The shaft 7 is driven periodically through the chain Wheel 12 in such a manner that the flight attach- J ments 11, which are moved along above the surface of the table 3 push the bottom folding box in the pile I along a guide 3a, first to the filling station II, then to 3,282,619 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 the intermediate station III and finally into the drying station IV.

Mounted above the group P of packets gathered together on the delivery table 1 and the filling station II are the threaded spindle 13 with a high-pitch thread and the square or splined shaft 14, which are mounted for rotation in the transmission bearing plates 15 and 16 respectively :at the drive end, and in the bearing 17 at the other end. The carriage 18 is mounted on the threaded spindle 13 and the shaft 14 in such a manner that, on rotation of the threaded spindle 13, it is displaced laterally in accordance with the pitch of the thread, while on rotation of the square shaft 14 the grippers 19, which are laterally toothed and are mounted for displacement in the longitudinal direction on the carriage 18, are moved, through the gearwheels 20, upwards out of reach of the packets P or downwards within reach thereof.

Below the filling station II and below the table 3, the timing shaft 22 is mounted for rotation in the transmission bea-ring plate 16 and the bearing 23 and is rotated once during one working cycle of the mechanism, through the chain wheel 24 in a manner described later. The engaging disc 25, which is mounted on the timing shaft 22 and has a detent 26, ensures, in conjunction with a pawl (not illustrated) actuated by a solenoid and spring, that a rotation of precisely 360 is adhered to. Also mounted on the timing shaft 22 are a plurality of cams, for example 80, 81 and 82, the function of which will be described later.

The mechanism (see FIGURE 4) is driven by a continuous-running electric motor 30, through chainwheel-s 31, 32 and chain 33, so that the shaft 35, mounted in the bearing 34, together with the half 36 of the magnetic clutch fixed thereto, rotates continuously at about 600 revolutions per minute. Fixed to the shaft 37, which is mounted for rotation in the walls at the trans mission side concentrically with the shaft 35, are the half 38 of the magnetic clutch, the centre portion of the double-acting magnetic clutch 39 and the chain wheel 40. The clutch member 41 with the pinion 42 fixed thereto, and the clutch member 43 with the pinion 44 fixed thereto are rotatable on the shaft 37 and can be driven alternately and intermittently by the fixed centre portion of the magnetic clutch according to the way in which the clutch is energized.

Fixed to the threaded spindle 13 is the centre portion 45 of a double-acting magnetic clutch, the torque of which is adjustable. The clutch member 46 with the pinion 47 fixed thereto and the clutch member 48 with the gearwhee-l 49 fixed thereto, are rotatable on the threaded spindle 13 and can be coupled alternately and intermittently to the fixed centre portion of the magnetic clutch according to the way in which the clutch is energized.

The pinions 42 and 47 are in engagement with one another through intermediate gearwheels 50 and have the same speed with the opposite direction of rotation. The pinion 44 is in engagement, through the intermediate gearwheel 51, with the gearwheel 49, in such a manner that the latter rotates at half the speed with the same direction of rotation. Fixed to the hub of the intermediate gearwheel 51 is the chainwheel 52 which drives the Geneva movement through the chain 53 and the chainwheel 54. The Geneva movement 55 sets the shaft 7 and the conveying chains 10 with the flight attachments 11 periodically in motion through the chainwheel 56, chain 57 and chainwheel 12. Through the chain 58, the gear 59 (reduction 1:100), the chain 60 and the chainwheel 24, the chainwheel 40 gives the timing shaft 22 one complete revolution for each working cycle of the mechanism.

Cross shafts 62, 63 are mounted for rocking respective- 1y below and above the delivery table 1. The upper cross shaft 63 is divided in order to permit the passage of the carriage 18 with the grippers 19. Four guides 65 like leaf springs on lever-like holders 64 and two guides 67 like leaf springs on holders 66 are fixed to the cross shafts 63, 62. Also fixed to the lower cross shaft 62 is a lever 69, the roller 70 of which is pulled against the circumference of the control cam 71 secured to the timing shaft 22, by means of a spring (not illustrated). The cross shafts 62, 63 are coupled together through levers 72 and rods 73 in such a manner that on a revolution of the cam 71, all six guides 65, 67 jointly either swing into the opening of an empty folding box arriving at the filling station II (see FIGURE 3) or, after the introduction of the packets P into the folding box, swing out of the folding box again so that the filled 'box can be moved without hindrance to the intermediate station Ill.

Fixed at the end of the square shaft 14 is a pinion 74 in which engages a toothed segment 75 which is pivotally mounted on the transmission Wall 16. The toothed segment 76 is controlled by the cam 77 secured to the timing shaft 22 and a .spring which is not illustrated, for the upward or downward movement of the grippers 19 in the carriage 18.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show in elevation and plan, the position of the closing flaps of the folding boxes in the pile, station I. FIGURES 7 and 8 show the position of the closing flaps in the filling station 11. The lateral flaps are moved (for example by an air blast) substantially into the position 90 illustrated in broken lines and are then folded over in the direction of the arrows into the position 90a. The lower flaps 91 is moved into a position correspondingto the position 90 of the lateral flaps. FIG- URES 9 and 10 show the position of the closing flaps on the arrival of the folding 'box at the intermediate station HI. The lower closing flap is folded into the position 9111 against the lateral flaps. The moistened upper flap 92 is still open and is folded against the lower flap when the folding box is on the way into the drying station IV.

The mechanism described works as follows:

As soon as the last of the predetermined number of packets of finished envelopes is pushed onto the delivery table 1 by the machine producing them, the energizing current for the magnetic clutches 36, 38 and 39, 41 and 45, 46 is switched on through the packet counter. The spindle 13 is driven through the gearwheels 42, 50, 47. the solenoid lifts the pawl out of the engaging disc on the timing shaft 22 and this begins one complete revolution driven through chainwheels 40, chain 58, gear 59 and chain 60. The square shaft 14 is set in rotation through the cam 77 and the grippers 19 in the carriage 18 move downwards. The guides 65, 67 are swung into the opening in the folding box in the filling station II, through the cam 71. The gripper carriage moves towards the folding box and the grippers 19 push the packets into the empty folding box. After the insertion has been terminated, the energizing current for the magnetic clutches 39, 41 and 45, 46 is switched off through the cam 80 on the timing shaft 22.

The guides 65, 67 are swung out of the folding box through the cam 71. The closing flaps at the sides, which have been blown apart with an air blast to open the folding box are folded over in known manner 'by slides (not illustrated) actuated by the cam 81 on the timing shaft 22. After the disconnection of the clutches 39, 41 and 45, 46, the energizing current for the clutches 39, 43 and 45, 48 is switched on by the cam 82 on the timing shaft 22. The threaded spindle 13 rotates in the opposite direction and moves the gripper carriage 18 back into the initial position. At the same time, the grippers 19 are displaced upwards again through the cam 77 and square shaft 14. They therefore move in accordance with the diagram 19a. Through the chainwheel 52, chain 53, chainwheel 54, Geneva motion 55 and chain 57, as

a result of an actuation of the Geneva wheel, the conveying chains 10 are moved on by one pitch and push an empty folding box from the pile I into the filling station II, the filled folding box out of the filling station 11 into the intermediate station III. On the way from station II to station III, the lower closing flap of the folding box is folded upwards 'by the guide 83 and the upper closing flap of the box, which is still folded out- Wards is moistened (or gummed) by the roller 84- of the m'oistening device 85. The moistened upper closing flap is folded downwards by the guide 86, while the folding box is moving from the station III to the drying station IV. After the termination of the movement of the conveying chains 10, the energizing current for the clutches 45, 48 and 39, 43 is switched off. After the termination of a complete revolution of the timing shaft 22, the pawl again engages in the engaging disc 25 and the energizing current for the magnetic clutches 36, 38 is switched off by one of the cams on the timing shaft. The working cycle of the mechanism is terminated. It begins afresh as soon as the predetermined number of packets has accumulated on the delivery table I again.

Having now particularly described our invention what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the US. and what we claim is:

1. A packaging device for attachment to and coaction with an envelope-making machine to insert envelopes into cartons open at least at one side, said device comprising, in combination, a receiving table for successively receiving thereon finished envelopes in side-by-side upright relationship to form a stack of envelopes on said table; a stepwise operating conveyor means for feeding successive cartons along a rectilinear path extending transversely of the lengthwise axis of said stack with the open side of the cartons facing the leading end of the stack; envelope-inserting means for inserting envelopes from said stack into a carton fed into lengthwise alignment with said stack, said inserting means including a threaded rotary spindle mounted parallel to the lengthwise axis of stack, a carrier supported on said spindle in threaded engagement therewith for moving the carrier along said spindle by rotation thereof, and a pusher arm supported by said carrier, said pusher arm being lengthwise movable transversely -of said spindle between a position extending between a group of envelopes in said stack at the leading end thereof to separate said group of envelopes from the remainder of the stack and a position withdrawn from the stack; drive means coacting with said pusher arm for moving the same into engagement with envelopes in the stack and coacting with said carrier for moving the same along said spindle to push the engaged group of envelopes into the carton aligned with the stack; and cycling means controlling said drive means to activate the pusher arm first to push the engaged group of envelopes into the aligned carton and then to return the pusher arm to a starting position.

2. A packaging device according to claim 1, wherein said drive means for the inserting means comprise electric power drive means drivingly coupled to said spindle, a rotary guide bar extending parallel to the spindle and guiding said carriage while moving along said spindle, a pinion rotatably supported on the carriage for rotation in unison with said guide bar and rack teeth on said pusher arm, said teeth being in engagement with said pinion for lengthwise displacement of the arm into and out of engagement with the envelopes in the stack upon rotation of the pinion.

3. A packaging device according to claim 2, wherein said cycling means comprise cam means for controlling said power drive means.

4. A packaging device according to claim 3 and comprising a rotary shaft, said cam means 'being mounted on said shaft for rotation in unison therewith, a second cam means fixedly mounted on said shaft, and gear means coacting with said guide bar and said second cam means for controlling the rotation of the guide bar in accordance with a rotation of said shaft.

5. A packaging device according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprise endless transmission means and dogs secured on said transmission means in lengthwise spaced relationship, said dogs being successively engageable with cartons to convey the same, one-by-one, into said aligned position, and a Geneva drive means co acting with said transmission means for driving the same step by step.

6. A packaging device according to claim 1 and comprising guide means movable into and out of a carton in said aligned position for guiding the group of envelopes while being pushed into the carton by said pushing means, said guide means being moved into and out of the aligned cart-on by said drive means, the activation of the drive means for the purpose aforesaid being also controlled by said cycling means.

7. A packaging device according to claim 6, wherein said cycling means comprise a rotatable shaft, a plurality of cam means on said shaft for rotation in unison therewith, said cam means controling said drive means for the purposes aforesaid, and control means for effecting rotation of said shaft through one revolution, each revolution of the shaft effecting insertion of an engaged group of envelopes into the respective aligned carton.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,321 5/1961 Amenta 53-252X 3,039,248 6/1962 Jones 5361 X 3,060,659 10/1962 Blais et a1. 53-61 X 3,103,772 9/1963 Anderson 53--352 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

P. H. POHL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO AND COACTION WITH AN ENVELOPE-MAKING MACHINE TO INSERT ENVELOPES INTO CARTONS OPEN AT LEAST AT ONE SIDE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A RECEIVING TABLE FOR SUCCESSIVELY RECEIVING THEREON FINISHED ENVELOPES IN SIDE-BY-SIDE UPRIGHT RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A STACK OF ENVELOPES ON SAID TABLE; A STEPWISE OPERATING CONVEYOR MEANS FOR FEEDING SUCCCESSIVE CARTONS ALONG A RECTILINEAR PATH EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF SAID STACK WITH THE OPEN SIDE OF THE CARTONS FACING THE LEADING END OF THE STACK; ENVELOPE-INSERTING MEANS FOR INSERTING ENVELOPES FROM SAID STACK INTO A CARTON FED INTO LENGTHWISE ALIGNMENT WITH SAID STACK, SAID INSERTING MEANS INCLUDING A THREADED ROTARY SPINDLE MOUNTED PARALLEL TO THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF STACK, A CARRIER SUPPORTED ON SAID SPINDLE IN THREADED ENGAGMENT THEREWITH FOR MOVING THE CARRIER ALONG SAID SPINDLE BY ROTATION THEREOF, AND A PUSHER ARM SUPPORTED BY SAID CARRIER, SAID PUSHER ARM BEING LENGTHWISE MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SPINDLE BETWEEN A POSITION EXTENDING BETWEEN A GROUP OF ENVELOPES IN SAID STACK AT THE LEADING END THEREOF TO SEPARATE SAID GROUP OF ENVELOPES FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE STACK AND A POSITION WITHDRAWN FROM THE STACK; DRIVE MEANS COACTING WITH SAID PUSHER ARM FOR MOVING THE SAME INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ENVELOPES IN THE STACK AND COACTING WITH SAID CARRIER FOR MOVING THE SAME ALONG SAID SPINDLE TO PUSH THE ENGAGED GROUP OF ENVELOPES INTO THE CARTON ALIGNED WITH THE STACK; AND CYCLING MEANS CONTROLLING SAID DRIVE MEANS IN ACTIVATE THE PUSHER ARM FIRST TO PUSH THE ENGAGED GROUP OF ENVELOPES INTO THE ALIGNED CARTON AND THEN TO RETURN THE PUSHER ARM TO A STARTING POSITION. 